When Is It Time To Transition To Donor Egg?

There are two parts of the answer to this question. The first would be when your RE tells you that egg donation is your best choice for achieving a pregnancy. The second part is when you are emotionally ready to actually pursue finding an egg donor.

The physical/medical decision that egg donation is the best option for pregnancy usually comes after repeated attempts to become pregnant, both on your own and through fertility treatment. Most woman need an egg donor due to diminished ovarian reserve regardless of the women’s age but in most cases the woman will be over the age of 37 and often in her 40s. Once a woman is in this age range she has only a 10% chance, or less, of conceiving with her own eggs according to the fertility clock offered by the website, My Future Baby.

Yet, many woman are lulled into complacency by the fact that they are still menstruating and they see celebrities having babies well beyond 40 and assume that they will also be able to have a baby easily beyond their mid thirties. That is why it can be is such a rude awakening for many women when they are told by their fertility specialist (reproductive endocrinologist or RE) that they should consider a donor egg. With such disappointment, I have seen many couples leave that RE and seek the advice of another. Technology is wonderful and amazing strides have been made to help woman to have children beyond their normal reproductive years but this is usually accomplished through donor egg when one is beyond 40.

I have found that for some couples it may take only six months to overcome the disappointment of not being able to use their own eggs. But for many, it may take a year to a year and a half to reach acceptance. At that point, you can start looking at donor profiles without crying or being furious with the world that this is your “best” option. This is when you really have gotten to the other side and can view egg donation as your chance to become a parent and can be excited about finally being able to build the family you have been longing for.

Welcome to Gail's Blog! Gail launched Donor Concierge in 2006 to provide intended parents with greater choice when searching for an egg donor or surrogate. Our Blog retains her voice, and our company retains her philosophy & ethics. We invite you to learn about finding an egg donor, finding a surrogate mother and the fascinating world of fertility.